Culture medium

Culture medium is a liquid or gel designed to support the growth of microorganisms or cells, or small plants like the moss Physcomitrella patens. There are different types of media for growing different types of cells.

Types of Culture Media

There are two major types of growth media: those used for cell culture, which use specific cell types derived from plants or animals, and microbiological culture, which are used for growing microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast. The most common growth media for microorganisms are nutrient broths and agar plates; specialized media are sometimes required for microorganism and cell culture growth.

Cell Culture Media

Cell culture media generally comprise an appropriate source of energy and compounds which regulate the cell cycle.

Microbiological Culture Media

Microbiological culture media contain nutrients that are necessary for the organisms to grow. They are used in the detection, isolation, and cultivation of a variety of microorganisms.

Components of Culture Media

The exact composition of growth media varies by the type of cell that is being cultured. While there are a number of different types of media available, they all contain similar components.

Energy Sources

Culture media require a source of energy which is usually in the form of a sugar like glucose.

Amino Acids and Vitamins

These are required for protein synthesis and growth regulation.

Salts

Salts are necessary for maintaining the osmotic balance of the culture.

pH Buffers

pH buffers are used to maintain the culture at a constant pH.

See Also

• Cell culture
• Microbiological culture
• Agar plate
• Nutrient broth

Culture medium Resources
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